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3232That’s What He Said…https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/16/thats-what-he-said/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/16/thats-what-he-said/#respondThu, 16 May 2019 17:55:01 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=476Continue reading That’s What He Said…]]>So, one of my least favorite authors is Chuck Wendig. Mostly because how he writes is a slow string of wording that dribbles on for too long and makes for a frustrating read. Let me offer up an example of what I’m talking about from the novel Star Wars: Aftermath. I will write the first part of it out for you and let’s see if you see anything that annoys you as well. I mean it may not. You might like it just fine. But there’s just a certain cadence to the storytelling structure that annoys the ever-lovin’ piss outta me. Let me… let me just show you:

“Then:

Monument Plaza.

Chains rattle as they lash the neck of Emperor Palpatine. Ropes follow suit–lassos looping around the statue’s middle. The mad cheers of the crowd as they pull, and pull, and pull. Disappointed groans as the stone fixtures refuses to budge. But then someone whips the chains around the back ends of a couple of heavy-gauge speeders, and then the engines warble and hum to life–the speeders gun it and again the crowd pulls–

The sound like a giant bone breaking.

A fracture appears at the base of the statue.

More cheering. Yelling. And–

Applause as it comes crashing down.

The head of the statue snaps off, goes rolling and crashing into a fountain. Dark water splashes. The crowd laughs.

And then: The whooping of klaxons. Red lights strobe. Three airspeeders swoop down from the traffic lanes above–Imperial police. Red-and-black helmets. The glow of their lights reflected back in their helmets.

There comes no warning. No demand to stand down.

The laser cannons at the fore of each airspeeder open fire. Red bolts sear the air. The crowd is cut apart. Bodies dropped and stitched with fire.

But still, those gathered are not cowed. They are no longer a crowd. Now they are a mob. They start picking up hunks of the Palpatine statue and lobbing them at the airspeeders. One of the speeders swings to the side to avoid an incoming chunk of stone–and it bumps another speeder, interrupting its fire. Coruscanti citizens climb up the stone spire behind both speeders–a spire on which are written the Imperial values of order, control, and the rule of law–and begin jumping onto the police cruisers. One helmeted cop is flung from his vehicle. The other crawls out onto the hood of his speeder, opening fire with a pair of blasters–just as a hunk of stone cracks him in the helmet, knocking him to the ground.

The other two airspeeders lift higher and keep firing.

Screams and fire and smoke.

Two of those gathered–a father and a son, Rorak and Jak–quick-duck behind the collapsed statue. The sounds of the battle unfolding right here in Monument Plaza don’t end. In the distance, the sound of more fighting, a plume of flames, flashes of blaster fire. A billboard high up in the sky among the traffic lanes suddenly goes to static.

The boy is young, only twelve standard years, not old enough to fight. Not yet. He looks to his father with pleading eyes. Over the din he yells: “But the battle station was destroyed, dad! The battle is over!” They just watched it only an hour before. The supposed end of the Empire. The start of something better.

The confusion in the boy’s shining eyes is clear: He doesn’t understand what’s happening.

But Rorak does. He’s heard tales of the Clone Wars–tales spoken of by his own father. He knows how war goes. It’s not many wars, but just one, drawn out again and again, cut up into slices so it seems more manageable.

For a long time he’s told his son not the truth but the idealized hope: One day the Empire will fall and things will be different for when you have children. And that may still come to pass. But now a stronger, sharper truth is required: “Jak–the battle isn’t over. The battle is just starting.”

He holds his son close.

Then he puts a hunk of statue in the boy’s hand.

And he picks one up himself.”

Every time I read something by Wendig I’m reminded of the stilted dialogue of the lighthouse keeper from Rick and Morty episode ‘Look Who’s Purging Now’ wherein Morty has to listen to his script first before they can set up a beacon to call Summer.

And always I think, ‘Shit, If Chuck Wendig can get published, so can I, damnit.’ Not to say that Wendig’s stories are… bad… just, for me, hard to get through because of his slow pacing and stuttered presentation.

That having been said, and why I’m even bringing any of this up, I do believe he has a salient point in one of his recent blog posts about writing.

In it, he discusses the idea that writing can and has been taught contrary to popular belief in certain circles that only the talented have a real hope of getting published (clearly, Wendig has some experience in this avenue). And I think he’s right. As much as I hate his writing, I think anybody can write and can be taught. I mean, if you’re writing you have to have been taught how words work, right? Story structure comes from understanding how books work. And literature classes can make you appreciate the art and structure more if you’re committed to the written word.

That’s what it boils down to really. If you want to write and be successful at it, you have to dedicate yourself to how the written word works. Even a Creative Writing class (it won’t make you a writer so don’t think you need the class to find a career on that path) can help you develop your skills and see how other potentials approach the craft. There is no one answer to becoming a writer. Just hard work and determination.

Now if only Mr. Wendig would learn how to WRITE a better story, then we might be getting somewhere. Of course, that just might be my own personal tastes speaking. Honestly, I’ve never been a huge fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, or C.S. Lewis either. And all of them are up there with the great writers. So take what I say with a grain of salt.

Alright, back to it.

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/16/thats-what-he-said/feed/0wild_west_vin_by_animamacosmicfantasiesWhen Did You Know You Wanted To Write?https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/15/when-did-you-know-you-wanted-to-write/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/15/when-did-you-know-you-wanted-to-write/#commentsWed, 15 May 2019 01:35:45 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=472Continue reading When Did You Know You Wanted To Write?]]> This is such an interesting question. I’ve seen many people ask it of established authors. It seems like a question that potential writers ask to make sure they’re not losing their minds because this bug to write has bitten them hard. And it isn’t a bad question. However, I think it’s potentially loaded. Mostly because nobody approaches writing the same way, and everybody comes at it from a different source of inspiration.

My first desire to start writing was way back in the late 80’s. I loved this video game called ‘The Legend Of Zelda.’ And I had this thought, what if I wrote a book about the characters? It was going to be about a human being from Earth who crashlands on the continent of Hyrule and ends up involved in the political intrigue of the land and the conflict between Gandalf, Zelda, and Link. Did I know where the story was going to go? Absolutely not! And I never finished it either! Which would be true of a great many stories I’ve started over the years yet never managed to finish off. Probably because it’s easy to start a story but incredibly difficult to see it through to the end. So if you have a story that has a beginning, middle, and end, and you’ve finished even just a rough draft, consider yourself an elite even if you never get it published. Because it’s incredibly difficult to see a work through to the end.

Since those days of trying to write a Legend of Zelda book (which I should really just write just for the shits and giggles of it and post it to Booksie), I’ve written dozens of short stories, three books, and numerous non-fiction works. Yet, I’ve only ever gotten one short story published: Fire In My Pie. And that was in a Turkish magazine courtesy of my penpal. THAT’S how difficult it is to get published. And I’ve submitted dozens of stories and inquiries. This book I’m currently writing will be my first attempt to get an actual agent. And, yes, I have published some stuff to Kindle. Including a collection of my short stories. I sold all of two copies over three years.

So why write then? Well, I would say it isn’t about potential fame or prosperity. Making a living out of it would be awesome! Then I could write all the time, pay the bills, and keep the house clean as I care for the family! But, that aside, I write because I love it. I love spinning tall tales and just delving into a world that came from my own imagination. It’s awesome.

My next major attempt to get serious about writing was when I was trying to write a synopsis for Gambit to submit to Marvel. It went nowhere. But it was a result of the urge to write that I’ve held since, well, eight years of age I’m sure. Maybe even all my life! I once had ideas for a Beetlejuice 2, Star Trek V (before that was even a movie), Back To The Future IV, and Star Wars! I even wrote a book based on Mass Effect 3 for my wife one Christmas reimagining the game’s events. I just like to write. I always have. The drive is just about telling stories of things and events that spur my own imagination. And sharing that craziness would be amazing.

I don’t know if I’ll ever manage to get professionally published. But I can tell you this, I will write this three book series and probably even more. If only to tell myself that story so that I can let my imagination run free. I’ve known I wanted to write since I first knew what a story was.

When did you know you wanted to write?

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/15/when-did-you-know-you-wanted-to-write/feed/2wild_west_vin_by_animamacosmicfantasiesI Suppose Another Poem Is In Order Herehttps://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/01/i-suppose-another-poem-is-in-order-here/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/01/i-suppose-another-poem-is-in-order-here/#respondWed, 01 May 2019 23:09:04 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=467Continue reading I Suppose Another Poem Is In Order Here]]>Okay, this might not be a ‘poem’ per se. But I love it nonetheless. This was my first attempt at rhyming and it took on the form of parody. These are the lyrics to a song I used to dig way back in High School. My class was preparing a book of poems to be published in the school newsletter and it was our endeavor to find a song or something similar and break down what it’s meaning was supposed to be just by looking at the lyrics themselves. I was so shy and introverted that I stumbled through most of my presentation (five minutes!) and couldn’t really get across my meaning. Some of my classmates (being the darlings that they were) thought it was the most hilarious thing ever. One even tried to write a parody about the whole event but gave up after a few minutes. Myself, however, took the opportunity to go balls to the walls about it and wrote this instead. It isn’t classic but it does get into my frame of mind at the time and I’m impressed I got it written so fast. My… erm… classmates, couldn’t care less and had already moved on to other people to ridicule. But, it remains in my collection to this day.

Enjoy.

COMPOSURE OF A SPEECH

A parody of the song: “Foreclosure of a Dream” By Megadeth

Copyright 1994 C.E. Wordcount 204

Voice so high, about to fall
Tried to speak with dignity without a flaw
Can’t find the words, euphoria’s low
Borrowed some time, took a blow
In front of all, pale in the face
Meaning to end this mighty disgrace

Chorus

Composure of a Speech
This paper’s but a leech
All is lost
Personal holocaust
Composure of a Speech

Lost in fright, once had a need
This is worthless now, died with a deed
Slipping away, about to flip
This stool’s about to tip
Heart cries out, loss of all pride
Just bombed, at least tried
Can’t breath, could just die

No hope left or can be found
This is no lie, no way to be proud
Received no reprieve, a failed pioneer
Broke new ground with a lost frontier
No ideas left, cannot get by
Many will laugh and ask “why”?
No solution to be found,
The answer’s in that pie

Voice so high, about to fall
Tried to speak with dignity without a flaw
Can’t find the words, euphoria’s low
Borrowed some time, took a blow

Chorus repeat twice

So lost

<The End>

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more!

~Timothy S Purvis

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/01/i-suppose-another-poem-is-in-order-here/feed/0tsplogocosmicfantasiesTime To Get Back To Workhttps://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/01/time-to-get-back-to-work/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/01/time-to-get-back-to-work/#respondWed, 01 May 2019 22:56:59 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=464Continue reading Time To Get Back To Work]]>I’ve recently finished up my beta read and sent it off to the woman who wrote the book. It had some intriguing concepts but the execution left little to be desired. Hopefully my thoughts and comments will help her moving forward so that she can make the story what it’s supposed to be. Now, I’m moving back on to my own book. I’ve rewritten the first five chapters so far and am pushing through with further edits. If I can pace myself right, I’ll be looking for an agent come the end of summer. ‘If’ being the operative term. It takes a long while to get a book done. Writing it was easy. I wrote it over a five or six month span. Editing it for publication, on the other hand, well that’s just a nightmare. Sometimes enjoyable, but very time consuming as you re-read every line, pour over every word, and hope that you can get it into a shape readers will enjoy.

I’ve read a few books recently, as well during downtime. Finished up a few Stephen King books. I finally got through the Stand which wasn’t the best I’ve read by King. Honestly I was put off by all the religious mumbo-jumbo. But, it was written well and ended… hopefully? Eh. I also finished off Doctor Sleep, the sequel to the Shining. That one was better if not a little basic in the story department. It presented a first time scenario that I’ve never seen from King before. I won’t spoil it, but normally he’s a very kill happy writer. So far my favorite book by him is ‘It’. But, isn’t that to be expected? As for other books, I’ve been reading the Neverending Story and it’s pretty good. Very much like the movie with many scenes that expand on character thoughts. I understand that the original author thought the movie was ‘revolting’, though I haven’t the faintest clue why. I’ve read some Star Wars, and been trying to get through the book ‘Six Gun Planet’ by John Jakes. His style is… perplexing. I was hoping to draw some inspiration from it to help me better evolve my own work, but it’s been a fairly boring read so far. However, I’m going to finish it, garsh-darnnit!

My progress has also been slowed because it’s playoff season in hockey. And I’ve been watching my favorite team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, tear it up. Go CBJ! But now, I must get serious and start writing some more. Thought that since it’s been almost a month since my last posting, I should probably share something. Updates are fun, right? Heh. Okay. I hope to have some better, more thoughtful insights later on before another month has past. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to share and/or talk about. Particularly when it comes to writing. It’s been an adventure but I’m a pretty insular person. So we’ll see what I come up with. As always if you have thoughts on subjects you’d like to see gotten into, just drop a comment down below.

Thanks for reading! Catch ya on the flip side!

~Timothy S Purvis

PS: Is it just me, or are the new block layouts on WordPress a little janky and limited? Maybe it’s just me…

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/05/01/time-to-get-back-to-work/feed/0coyotebg2.jpgcosmicfantasiesAnd Now For Another Poemhttps://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/04/08/and-now-for-another-poem/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/04/08/and-now-for-another-poem/#respondMon, 08 Apr 2019 16:55:59 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=459Continue reading And Now For Another Poem]]>I’ve got another old poem for you to enjoy. I wrote it for a poetry class I was taking. It was just for extra credit and it allowed me to flesh out my writing skills on a small scale. I think it helped me start thinking about creativity in the writing process. I will admit that I found it pretty easy and I wondered why others had issues trying to flesh out the rhythm and process of the poetic structure, however, I know that from my perspective today that poetry does challenge you to think in a different way. So here it is. This month’s selection.

O’Chicken

O’chicken

Clucking
bird of the farmyard

Pecking
seed and grit

And
scratching dirt

White
feathered friend and

Hardened
beak

Flightless hen try as you might

Strange avian

That
cowardly creature

How
so came you to be

Representative
of fear’s edge

That
we shudder and tremble

And
cower so to be said

You chicken

Easter

Is
given over to the bunny

Yet
the bunny clucks

How
can the bunny cluck

If
the bunny is not a chicken

Or
is it

For apparently the bunny lays eggs

Deliciously tempting

Legs
as a chicken

Curvaceous
luscious and smooth

Causing
grown men to crow

Cock-a-doodle-doo

Chasing
you as you run

As a hen fleeing the fox

Finger lickin’ good

The
roasting sound of taste

Crispy
and fried

Barbecued
and flame broiled

The
tongue salivates in anticipation

Of
that first bite

O’chicken

Thanks for reading! Catch you next time and feel free to follow and comment!

~ Timothy S Purvis

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/04/08/and-now-for-another-poem/feed/0tsplogocosmicfantasiesThe State Of My Latest Drafthttps://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/04/08/the-state-of-my-latest-draft/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/04/08/the-state-of-my-latest-draft/#respondMon, 08 Apr 2019 16:44:55 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=454Continue reading The State Of My Latest Draft]]>I’ve been working on my book, Red Star Sheriff, for the last year and a half and I’m pleased to say, proud even, that my third draft is going along smoothly. I’ve been tightening up plot elements and reveling in how much more life my characters are taking on. The story is becoming stronger and more refined and it feels so much more polished. However, I’m a little worried by the fact that I’m ADDING to the word count rather than reducing the bulky 153 thousand that’s already there. I’m hoping once I’ve finished the whole thing, I’ll be able to go through and trim a further 20% just to be on the safe side. However, I still feel that I’ll be able to start looking for an agent come the end of summer. My attention to the story is increasing as I push harder towards meeting my own deadline.

Does having my own deadline help? Hmmm. That’s a good question and I think that might be a subject I want to visit in a future post. Right now, having that focus is keeping me on task. But whether it’s necessary or not, I couldn’t say. What I will say, is that I’m furiously writing away and getting the book to where it needs to be. Almost there!

If you think there are any topics you’d like to hear my thoughts on, leave a comment and I’ll think about how I’d approach the idea. Keep it writing related though unless there’s a topic you think is worth having a conversation about. Though, I’m trying not to be distracted by internet outrage! Thanks for reading and will post again soon!

~ Timothy Scott Purvis

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/04/08/the-state-of-my-latest-draft/feed/0wild_west_vin_by_animamacosmicfantasiesI Used To Write Poemshttps://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/25/i-used-to-write-poems/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/25/i-used-to-write-poems/#respondMon, 25 Mar 2019 05:11:37 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=451Continue reading I Used To Write Poems]]>Once upon a time, I used to write poems. I’ve seen a lot of people on here sharing their own poems and I started thinking, ‘maybe I should share some of mine.’ So, that’s what I’m going to do. Starting now, every so often I’m going to put up one of my old poems. Let’s start with the first that I was always so proud of.

This one is called: State Of The Union. It was written during the Bush Jr presidency where I thought he was a total idiot and the Republicans could never nominate anyone any worse than him. Boy was I wrong. Strangely, this poem still holds up even though the times have changed. So, enjoy.

STATE OF THE UNION

Tickle Tockle Tackle Tak

Jesus wants his bible back

Hinkle Hockle Hovel Hook

What you say but never look

Crimple Crackle Cootel Crass

Preaching peace though ever
brash

Shallow Simpo Sour Sic

To raise your Arms so very
quick

Beeple Bopple Bicker Bim

People speak they follow Him

Veto Vecko Vivo Vas

All they follow is a baboon’s ass

Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you enjoyed. The new blocking system is somewhat disconcerting in this layout. However, I think it has delivered my work fairly well regardless. If you follow my blog, I’ll have more to say next month. If you don’t, well, what are you waiting for? Just hit that follow button already.

Talk to you all later.

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/25/i-used-to-write-poems/feed/0tsplogocosmicfantasiesClearly, I Don’t Understand Other Human Beingshttps://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/24/clearly-i-dont-understand-other-human-beings/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/24/clearly-i-dont-understand-other-human-beings/#respondSun, 24 Mar 2019 05:32:11 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=448Continue reading Clearly, I Don’t Understand Other Human Beings]]>Let me start by saying, I’m not a master communicator. I make errors in judgement. I take contextual clues out of context. I can mess up even the most benign conversations in a way that would make Donald Trump gag on his own reflexes. I freely admit it. I don’t get other people. I never have, I never will. I try to relate. But for all of my trying all I get is anger and conflict. Well, that’s not entirely fair. Sometimes, people will understand my standpoint. But far often than not, others seem to think I’m trying to tear them down.

The truth is, I don’t know why that is. I might be making a post that completely agrees with the blogger of the moment. But the blogger will think I’m attacking them and disagreeing and being a troll. Yet, that’s not what I’m doing at all. And it’s disheartening. Because I try really, really, really hard to relate to people around me. But more often than not, they just think I’m being an asshole and putting them down. Even when I try to explain my thoughts, it’s completely misconstrued as some sort of attack on who they are. It bothers me to no ends to know that my words can be taken so badly and out of context. And to know that no matter what I say is irrelevant. Because there is no way to explain what written words on the internet mean without verbal context.

I think we miss out on a lot in this day and age. We’re an internet society anymore. We try to relate to one another, understand our points of view, try to hold a conversation on the topics that matter to us. But without being face to face and voice to voice, our meanings are lost to the nihilistic reality that is the internet.

More than once I’ve lost a potential friend online, an ally even, due to a misunderstanding of the written word. Generally it’s completely due to a misreading of language when communicating one on one. Generally this misreading is due to the fact that words as we read them translate in our minds as certain dialects and inflections. This misreading too often leads to arguments and heated debates where they didn’t need to exist. And what really sucks is that there is no way to undo them. Pretty much this is due to the fact that we’ve dug our heels into the sand and have interpreted what we’ve read as absolutes. Ignoring the potential that it probably wasn’t what we thought it was all along.

I’ve lost a lot of friends and allies along the way as the result of the impersonal nature of the internet. It makes me sad and makes me wonder what I could have done different to change things. And the saddest part of all of this is, I don’t think there IS anything I could have done different. Sometimes, people just see what they will and won’t bother giving any sort of benefit of the doubt to fix what has apparently gone wrong in the relationship.

We all want to connect with one another. I mean, why bother with this whole blog nonsense if not for that one simple fact? We want that connection. But when we say something that is taken wrong and we’re not given the chance to correct that error, how can we ever say we truly understand where each of us are coming from? As a writer, I want to connect. To establish a bond. But when others don’t want that same bond, too often we find ourselves adrift in a sea of uncertainty. And too often we want to quit. Give up. Throw in the towel. Wander off into obscurity and ball up into the fetal position because we know we’ve fucked up somehow.

But, at the end of the day, we’re all just human. There’s not a one of us who hasn’t made some sort of mistake at some point in our lives. Those regrets always linger. But what makes us stronger is when we take that extra step in correcting that mistake. And when that person who’s been offended rejects that attempt at reconciliation, we feel all the worse for it. However, we shouldn’t. Because we’ve tried. If they don’t want to reach for that olive branch, at that point, the onus is on them. There’s only so far one can go to heal a wound. And if you’re unwilling to accept that fact… well, I guess there isn’t anything else to say, now is there?

I make mistakes. I always will. But I will always do everything I can to make amends. This in the face of the fact that there will always be those who refuse to accept those attempts to correct what was made in error.

With all my heart, I apologize.

Because I’m not perfect. I’m always evolving. Always changing. Always looking for better ways to improve my being. If you don’t want to be a part of that process. Well. …Okay. But don’t say I never invited you along for the endeavor. I can’t change who I am anymore than anyone else can. However, I can do some soul searching and figure out a way to connect that doesn’t end in us all hating one another.

Can you?

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/24/clearly-i-dont-understand-other-human-beings/feed/0cropped-icentristlogo-1.jpgcosmicfantasiesBeta Reading For Someone Can Be A Challengehttps://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/20/beta-reading-for-someone-can-be-a-challenge/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/20/beta-reading-for-someone-can-be-a-challenge/#commentsWed, 20 Mar 2019 22:34:03 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=443Continue reading Beta Reading For Someone Can Be A Challenge]]>Over the last half a year I’ve been reading a lot of other writer’s works. I have a method I like to employ when critiquing a work of literature (I wrote about that last month and what it means to be a critiquer, which you can check out here: https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/02/14/advice-for-those-critters-out-there-who-want-to-give-better-critiques/). What I focus on is the story first and how it flows throughout the entire work. Sometimes, I’ll note something off as a comment in Microsoft Word (just highlight that section, right click, and choose ‘new comment’ and, voila!, a helpful thought!) but my main thrust is how the story works for me. Do I like that Character A completely dismissed Character B’s concern about that oncoming threat? Is the conflict engaging me and allowing me to suspend my disbelief? Or is it so egregious of an oversight that I just can’t move on without writing my own sermon about the merits of what’s just been written?

It’s a real challenge. Because, you don’t want to be mean. You want to help the writer in question improve. I find that a lot of people are very nervous about critiquing a work. They’re too afraid they’ll hurt the writer’s feelings and cause them to quit writing altogether. What has happened for me, personally, though is that a lot of people I’ve critiqued and Beta read for really found my thoughts insightful and shone a light on issues they didn’t even see despite multiple rereads. And I find that’s true myself. I can go through my book dozens of times and still miss something nagging little plot point that someone will helpful point out (usually one of my Beta Readers).

What I’ve also found is that people have false conceptions about what it means to be a Beta Reader. In a prior post from last month (https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/02/15/my-experiences-with-online-writers-groups/) I ruminated about online writers groups and why I don’t find them as helpful as they should be. For the most part, the ‘readers’ there will offer you one of two responses: A) Oh! I loved reading that! I think it works very well (a variation of this response is: God, that sucked. Stop writing. I only read this for the points otherwise I would never have bothered), or B) they’ll completely rewrite your offering how they would write it, cutting out large, important parts to your narrative. Which is why I ultimately suggest just ignoring online groups. They’ll only cause you misery and irritation. The whole issue, though, is that they don’t separate reading from writing (I suggested in my post they didn’t know how to read, and I stand by this, but for the sake of playing devil’s advocate, everybody knows how to read, they just don’t focus on what it is that they enjoy about it that makes them want to read it or turn away and can rarely express it).

I was talking to another writer I am casually acquainted with, and she had the suggestion that writers make miserable Beta Readers because writing is different from reading. Now, I just said, ‘…they don’t separate reading from writing…’ and what I mean by this is that most beginning writers tend to have this thought that when they read, they need to correct what they see. They assume that what they’ve learn, everything they know, is the only correct way to write. They don’t take the time to be an effective reader. After all, that’s why you want to write, right? Because you love reading. You love stories. You love the art of literary gunslinging. You want to be a: wordslinger. But that will never be accomplish if the writer in question is unwilling to partake in that one, crucial element of being a writer: reading.

On Scribophile (and Fanstory and all those sites too) too many self-published authors with a few sales are there to muddy the waters, confuse the new recruits, convince them that since this writer ‘published’ and that writer ‘published’ then their advice is much more important than just a community working together to improve their craft. Instead, you have cults of personalities ruling the roost and nobody is really improving. Talented writers are given bad advice and they hack at their story (hack at it until nothing’s left!) and then find themselves with only a shell of the tale they wished to present because the focus wasn’t on writing, it was on the personality. And it’s because of those experiences that I refuse to let myself become one of them. I don’t know everything about the craft. Hell, half of the time I have to rewrite entire sections of works that don’t work because I miss a crucial (though easy to misplace) piece of the plot. It could be a simple phrasing that holds a different meaning altogether, contrary to what the story is saying, or an overarching MacGuffin that, for some reason, doesn’t come across as important as it should. I have people argue with me about what I want out of reader saying that I’m talking crazy! I argue that the story in the Beta Read comes first, the grammar second. Yet, time and time again, I’m countered with: ‘If it’s hard to read, you don’t have a story.’ And, sure, a really rough draft to read is miserable on your reader. However, if you’ve done your diligence, you’ve already presented a readable draft and what you need then is, ‘How does the story read?’

And there, my friends, is the sticking point.

We’ve all been hardwired to approach reading as a case study in grammar. Beta Readers that are out there, mostly concentrate on the grammar of the piece over the piece itself. I had a debate with my father-in-law over the matter. His argument, if a painter is painting a work of art, he doesn’t just stop and ask someone, ‘how’s it coming along?’ Because, for him, it still isn’t done. But my counter was, ‘yes, but the artist wants to know if he’s on the right path. You’re thoughts could lead to a eureka moment he never anticipated!’ And every artist I’ve ever know loves those eureka moments (though, it’s true, there are some cagey ones who won’t let their precious see the light of day until they think they’ve nailed it. And others who’ll just squirrel it all away because none of it is right). And so that’s how I approach a Beta Read. But few others will. Because they’ve been conditioned to focus on grammar first, story last.

Let me bring this home. I’m currently Beta Reading for someone I met a few months ago online. I suggested I’d read her story even if she didn’t want to read mine. Fortunately, she’s giving it the once over now, but I’ve been reading for the last month and I have a few things to say. Her grammar is gorgeous! Her turn of phrase astounding! I’ve seen few writers with her depth of literary understanding. The story stinks, though. It has plenty of brilliant thoughts and concepts and ideas that would make Isaac Asimov sit up and take notice. But those concepts with their pretty little words are irrelevant when the very thing that needs to work is broken: the story. And I’m struggling how to point this out without looking like a complete asshole. I’ve put in some humorous responses (which my wife thinks makes me look like an asshole anyway) and pointed out what doesn’t work and why. To be clear, I’m approaching this as a reader of the genre she’s working with. It all started out so strong, but has devolved into a myriad of conflicting concepts and desires.

And I blame online sites for it.

Because I know (just know!) she’s been writing and rewriting to please the masses rather than herself. And it’s disheartening. Because I can see the good story lying underneath, awaiting its surfacing. But she’s spending all of her time on the grammar. Not the meat of the work.

Let me tell you this, my second draft has a strong, solid story if I do say so myself. But the grammar needs a lot of work. I’m not worried about it yet, though. Because, as I’ve referenced in a past posting, that’s just the damned paint job. The skeleton of the novel needs to work first regardless of fancy words and excellent sentence structure.

I hope my words won’t be taken as harsh when I complete my latest Beta Read. It’s a dangerous thing to do because sometimes people will never talk to you again because it wasn’t what they wanted to hear (lost several contacts because they couldn’t hear what I was saying) but I have to be honest and showcase what wasn’t working for me. That doesn’t mean I don’t point out where it’s really good, of course. Oh no, no. If I’m enamored with something, I’ll make it known. But as a reader, I like what I like even if my writing isn’t extraordinary. I just hope to be as good a writer as I am a reader.

So, my thoughts on Beta Reading are this: if you’re going to Beta Read, be a reader. Read the story first, make suggestions on grammar second. Because this is a trial run to see what’s working and what’s not in the story. Sort of like Test Audiences for movies. The movie might be in a workable form, but sometimes audiences aren’t into what’s being presented. Meaning another cut has to be rendered. That’s a Beta Read. The test read before looking to push for publication. Your job is to express how the story makes you feel. Sure, it might still be a little rough. By all means, point that out. But don’t make that your primary focus.

And always, always thank the writer for giving you the opportunity for the read. Even if they hate you for it.

Oh, and for the record, if you’re a writer who thinks writers shouldn’t be readers, then get out of the business now. Because writers are readers and writers read to be better writers.

]]>https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/20/beta-reading-for-someone-can-be-a-challenge/feed/4wild_west_vin_by_animamacosmicfantasiesThe Word Count: Should It Matter When Writing?https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/03/the-word-count-should-it-matter-when-writing/
https://cosmicfantasies.com/2019/03/03/the-word-count-should-it-matter-when-writing/#respondSun, 03 Mar 2019 18:00:10 +0000http://cosmicfantasies.com/?p=438I’ve been reading a lot of ‘advice’ lately on what the appropriate word count per day should be when you start a writing session. Some, like Stephen King, suggest upwards to two thousand words per day. Others will say anywhere from five hundred to one thousand per day. There doesn’t seem to be a concise consensus on this subject as, as I’ve come to realize over the years, every writer is different. Here is a good article on the matter:

As for myself, whereas I believe a writer should always write, I don’t always write EVERY day. There are days I just spend with the family, or clean the house, or play a game, or deal with something else that isn’t necessarily a writing agenda. Is this a good thing? I don’t know. And frankly it doesn’t really matter to me. I still get a lot of writing done during the week. There are some days I write upwards of nearly four thousand words and other days I merely get five hundred on a page. Honestly, I don’t think it really matters so long as you’re determined to get your work done. And, for me, it’s all about when the characters start yattering their loudest and I just can’t tune them out. I have to get their story down. And when I start writing, it doesn’t stop until I’ve reached the end of the current notation of events.

Now, you can get yourself into trouble if you decide not to write for a very long stretch of time as you will inevitably just toss the work to the side because you’re just not ‘feeling it’, or you’re experiencing some serious issues of ‘writer’s block’. And in those cases, it’s always good to just put the work aside and write anything at all even if it’s just some sort of random hodgepodge of inanity that means very little to even yourself. Doing so, though, gets those juices flowing and weird ideas just start popping up, and then you find yourself right back at it. So, I’d recommend not putting writing off for too long.

Which still leaves us with the question: does word count matter?

I’m the sort of guy who just let’s a train of thought pop out and splash down on the page. My first process of writing is always to start my rough draft of any story on a sheet of paper with my words delivered by pen. I write until my wrist is aching and my mind has gotten to the point where I think, ‘Okay, this is good.’ And then I will type it into the computer. And I don’t always get it all transcribed into the good ole CPU in one go, so knowing my word count per day becomes mere speculation on my part. However, I can tell you this, I wrote my rough draft of Red Star Sheriff by hand last year starting April 23rd, 2018 and finished my longhand draft June 3rd, 2018 (Just a case in point, I began work on chapter one of the book June of 2017 and kept writing and rewriting it until I just decided enough was enough and finished my draft! So, don’t edit as you go as you may find yourself spending a year on one chapter, FYI!). My word count for my rough draft after I got it fully transcribed into Word Processor was: 119,773. So, let’s do the math on that and see what my theoretical daily word count is (remember, I don’t write consistently everyday so this is a rough estimate on if I did, this is what it’d look like). I wrote the remainder of the rough draft in approximately 42 days! So, if we divide my rough draft word count by forty two days, we get an approximate word count of: 2,852 words per day. There was some run on numeration but I’m just adding up.

Since June 3rd of 2018, I’ve written up draft one and draft two (on the computer, naturally since I only longhand my rough draft) and netted word counts of 157,565 and 153,847 respectively (all of this by the end of November of last year). Of course, that’s with alterations, moving around of plot structure, general rewrites, and fleshing out of concepts. But if we take the highest number from the ‘draft one’ cut and subtract the count from the rough draft, we’ll get an additional word count added to the initial run as: 37,792. So with that new tally altogether, and we assume another forty two day fine tuning, we’re looking at a daily word count of roughly: 3,752 words per day. And that feels about right because I do a lot of writing. So my daily word count can vary anywhere from an anemic 500 a day to a whopping nearly 4,000 words per day. Depending on my mood.

Therefore, let’s answer our question. How many words per day is appropriate when you’re writing your masterpiece? And my answer is this, it’s up to you. Who cares what the norms are? Just get your work done and stop sidetracking yourself with inane questions like this. For myself, I never really time myself or pay attention to my word count until I manage to get it into the computer. The amazing thing is always that part when you see how much you wrote and you can brag to your wife, ‘Hey, look, honey! I just wrote five thousand words! Man, did I have a productive day.’ And that’s what it boils down to: word count is really just about bragging how much you wrote. And little else. Unless you’re talking about publishing to a magazine like Asimov’s Science Fiction or Fantasy and Science Fiction (because, well, you know, they have word limits to pay attention to). Even then, your first focus should always be finishing your story or article and not concern yourself about a word count. Well, unless you’re having issues coming up with what you want to say. That, of course, is a different issue altogether.

Let me end this with this. I posted a link above about word counts which you should read. And now I’m going to post another one which I think is even more profound and to the point. So, thanks for reading and I’ll have more of my lovely insights later. Keep writing and never give up.